David Cameron Arrives In Dubai For Defence Talks As Part Of Gulf And Middle East Tour

David Cameron has arrived in Dubai as part of a three-day tour of the Gulf and the Middle East in a bid to cement UK arms sales and build a "reinvigorated partnership" with the region's leaders after the Arab Spring.

The Prime Minister is personally spearheading a push to persuade the United Arab Emirates to buy 60 of BAE's Typhoon jets in a deal reported to be worth upwards of £3bn.

He will travel to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday - Britain's biggest trading partner in the region - which is also considering adding to its fleet of the aircraft.

A Eurofighter Typhoon takes off on November 15, 2011 at the Dubai Airshow.

Downing Street said the visit - his second to each country as premier - were part of a wider effort to reinforce military ties.

These are seen as crucial amid continued fears over Iran's nuclear ambitions and the threat Tehran could seek to badly disrupt oil supplies by blocking the Straits of Hormuz.

Mr Cameron landed at a military airbase near Dubai where a number of RAF Typhoons are stationed to promote the aircraft to military and political figures from the UAE.

David Cameron joined 70 British personnel stationed at Dubai for breakfast.

Cameron will personally push to persuade the United Arab Emirates to buy 60 of BAE's Typhoon jets

He will also hold talks with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Prime Minister of UAE on the potential for a joint work on the next generation of military aerospace equipment.

Overall - including an expected deal with Oman - the government hopes to secure deals for 100 Typhoons to the region in the coming year - worth at least £6 billion to British firms.

It could prove vital to BAE as it struggles to deal with massive defence spending cuts in the US and Europe and following the collapse of its planned merger with EADS.

Mr Cameron faces a tough balancing act however as he attempts to secure billions in investment from the oil-rich states while addressing concerns about the human rights records of their regimes.

The Arab Spring has led to an increased focus on largely autocratic rule in many states, including crackdowns on pro-democracy and other protest movements.

The government has been criticised for failing to condemn abuses and accused of continuing to sell military equipment with insufficient guarantees it would not be used in repression.

But Saudi officials reacted angrily to an "insulting" inquiry into it by the Commons foreign affairs committee, warning it would be "re-evaluating" relations.

And British businesses are said to have been excluded from contracts in other nations in protest at the British support for the pro-democracy movements elsewhere.

As part of the visit, Mr Cameron will take part in a question and answer session with university students in Abu Dhabi and meet with UK business leaders at an investment event.

"We want to work together with the Gulf countries towards a future that is rich in prosperity, strong in defence and open in its handling and pursuit of political and economic reform," Downing Street said ahead of the visit.

On Wednesday, Mr Cameron will make a short visit to the Middle East before flying home for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at Downing Street ahead of the crunch EU budget summit.

It means he will be out of the country when he learns whether Barack Obama or Mitt Romney have won the bitterly contested US presidential race. He will also miss Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons.

Related on HuffPost:

Close



Cameron visit to the Gulf States

of





ZAATARI, JORDAN - NOVEMBER 7: British Prime Minister David Cameron (4th L) arrives at Al Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees , on November 7, 2012 in north east Jordan. The camp sees some 500 people arriving daily and Cameron is thought to the first G20 leader to have visited. Cameron's visit comes ahead of talks with armed Syrian rebels. (Photo by Salah Malkawi/Getty Images)

British Prime Minister David Cameron (C-L), Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh (C-R) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) representative to Jordan Andrew Harper (R) walk in the Zaatari refugee camp in the Jordanian town of Mafraq, near the border with Syria, on November 7, 2012. Cameron vowed to do more to help end the bloody crisis in Syria as he made a surprise visit to the sprawling Zaatari refugee camp following a three-day Middle Eastern tour. AFP PHOTO/STR (Photo credit should read KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP/Getty Images)

ZAATARI, JORDAN - NOVEMBER 7: British Prime Minister David Cameron (C) arrives at Al Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees , on November 7, 2012 in north east Jordan. The camp sees some 500 people arriving daily and Cameron is thought to the first G20 leader to have visited. Cameron's visit comes ahead of talks with armed Syrian rebels. (Photo by Salah Malkawi/Getty Images)

ZAATARI, JORDAN - NOVEMBER 7: British Prime Minister David Cameron (C) arrives at Al Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees , on November 7, 2012 in north east Jordan. The camp sees some 500 people arriving daily and Cameron is thought to the first G20 leader to have visited. Cameron's visit comes ahead of talks with armed Syrian rebels. (Photo by Salah Malkawi/Getty Images)

ZAATARI, JORDAN - NOVEMBER 7: British Prime Minister David Cameron (C) arrives at Al Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees , on November 7, 2012 in north east Jordan. The camp sees some 500 people arriving daily and Cameron is thought to the first G20 leader to have visited. Cameron's visit comes ahead of talks with armed Syrian rebels. (Photo by Salah Malkawi/Getty Images)

ZAATARI, JORDAN - NOVEMBER 7: Syrian refugees watch as British Prime Minister David Cameron (not pictured) arrives at Al Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees , on November 7, 2012 in north east Jordan. The camp sees some 500 people arriving daily and Cameron is thought to the first G20 leader to have visited. Cameron's visit comes ahead of talks with armed Syrian rebels. (Photo by Salah Malkawi/Getty Images)

ZAATARI, JORDAN - NOVEMBER 7: Syrian refugee children watch as British Prime Minister David Cameron (not pictured) arrives at Al Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees , on November 7, 2012 in north east Jordan. The camp sees some 500 people arriving daily and Cameron is thought to the first G20 leader to have visited. Cameron's visit comes ahead of talks with armed Syrian rebels. (Photo by Salah Malkawi/Getty Images)

ZAATARI, JORDAN - NOVEMBER 7: Syrian refugee children watch as British Prime Minister David Cameron (not pictured) arrives at Al Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees , on November 7, 2012 in north east Jordan. The camp sees some 500 people arriving daily and Cameron is thought to the first G20 leader to have visited. Cameron's visit comes ahead of talks with armed Syrian rebels. (Photo by Salah Malkawi/Getty Images)

ZAATARI, JORDAN - NOVEMBER 7: British Prime Minister David Cameron (L) arrives at Al Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees , on November 7, 2012 in north east Jordan. The camp sees some 500 people arriving daily and Cameron is thought to the first G20 leader to have visited. Cameron's visit comes ahead of talks with armed Syrian rebels. (Photo by Salah Malkawi/Getty Images)

Prime Minister David Cameron talks to a refugee from Syria in the reception centre at the Za'atri refugee camp near the Syrian - Jordanian border where he met Syrian families who have escaped across the border into Jordan from the Assad regime.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets King Abdullah of Jordan at the Royal Palace in Amman today. Earlier he visited the Za'atri refugee camp near the Syrian - Jordanian border where he met Syrian families who have escaped across the border into Jordan from the Assad regime.

Prime Minister David Cameron tours the Za'atri refugee camp near the Syrian - Jordanian border where he met Syrian families who have escaped across the border into Jordan from the Assad regime.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets King Abdullah of Jordan at the Royal Palace in Amman today. Earlier he visited the Za'atri refugee camp near the Syrian - Jordanian border where he met Syrian families who have escaped across the border into Jordan from the Assad regime.

Prime Minister David Cameron talks to border guards on the Syrian - Jordanian border near the Al Wahdah dam. Mr Cameron saw the path taken by Syrian refugees and he later went to the Za'atri camp and met Syrian families who have escaped across the border.

Prime Minister David Cameron talks to border guards on the Syrian - Jordanian border near the Al Wahdah dam. Mr Cameron saw the path taken by Syrian refugees and he later went to the Za'atri camp and met Syrian families who have escaped across the border.

Prime Minister David Cameron looks into Syria from the Jordanian border near the Al Wahdah dam. Mr Cameron saw the path taken by Syrian refugees and he later went to the Za'atri camp and met Syrian families who have escaped across the border.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets children and teachers in a classroom at the Za'atri refugee camp near the Syrian - Jordanian border where he met Syrian families who have escaped across the border into Jordan from the Assad regime.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets children and teachers in a classroom at the Za'atri refugee camp near the Syrian - Jordanian border where he met Syrian families who have escaped across the border into Jordan from the Assad regime.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets female students at Dar Al-Hekma University in Jeddah during his one day visit to Saudi Arabia today. Earlier Cameron met King Abdullah at his official residence.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets female students at Dar Al-Hekma University in Jeddah during his one day visit to Saudi Arabia today. Earlier Cameron met King Abdullah at his official residence.

Prime Minister David Cameron tours the Za'atri refugee camp near the Syrian - Jordanian border where he met Syrian families who have escaped across the border into Jordan from the Assad regime.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets female students at Dar Al-Hekma University in Jeddah during his one day visit to Saudi Arabia today. Earlier Cameron met King Abdullah at his official residence.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets female students at Dar Al-Hekma University in Jeddah during his one day visit to Saudi Arabia.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets female students at Dar Al-Hekma University in Jeddah during his one day visit to Saudi Arabia.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets female students at Dar Al-Hekma University in Jeddah during his one day visit to Saudi Arabia today. Earlier Cameron met King Abdullah at his official residence.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets King Abdullah of Jordan at the Royal Palace in Amman today. Earlier the PM visited the Za'atri refugee camp near the Syrian - Jordanian border where he met Syrian families who have escaped across the border into Jordan from the Assad regime.

Prime Minister David Cameron receives the King Abdullah Decoration One from King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at the Palace of the King in Jeddah today.

Prime Minister David Cameron receives the King Abdullah Decoration One from King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at the Palace of the King in Jeddah today.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at the Palace of the King in Jeddah today accompanied by Defence Secretary Philip Hammond (left).

Prime Minister David Cameron meets King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at the Palace of the King in Jeddah today.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at the Palace of the King in Jeddah today accompanied by Defence Secretary Philip Hammond (left).

Prime Minister David Cameron at the Palace of the King in Jeddah today where he met King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.

Prime Minister David Cameron receives the King Abdullah Decoration One from King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at the Palace of the King in Jeddah today.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at the Palace of the King in Jeddah today.

Prime Minister David Cameron receives the King Abdullah Decoration One from King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at the Palace of the King in Jeddah today.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia arrives in Jeddah greeted by the Governor of Mecca, Khalid al Faisal. Later he went onto to meet King Abdullah at the Palace of the King where they had lunch and bilateral meetings.

In this handout photos made available by Emirates News Agency, WAM, British Prime Minister David Cameron, right, shakes hands with President of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed at al Nahyan at Al Rawda Palace in the city of al Ain in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. Cameron is on a three day visit to Gulf states. (AP Photo/WAM)

In this handout photos made available by Emirates News Agency, WAM, British Prime Minister David Cameron, fifth left, walks with with President of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed at al Nahyan, fifth right, at Al Rawda Palace in the city of al Ain in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. Cameron is on a three day visit to Gulf states. (AP Photo/WAM)

Prime Minister David Cameron is welcomed by Government ministers to the Al Rawda Palace in the city of al Ain in Abu Dhabi after meeting President of the UAE HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan where they held a bilateral meeting, during his three day visit to Gulf states.

Prime Minister David Cameron is welcomed to the Al Rawda Palace in the city of al Ain in Abu Dhabi by the President of the UAE HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan where they held a bilateral meeting. Cameron is on a three day visit to Gulf states.

Prime Minister David Cameron is welcomed to the Al Rawda Palace in the city of al Ain in Abu Dhabi by the President of the UAE HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan where they held a bilateral meeting. Cameron is on a three day visit to Gulf states.

Prime Minister David Cameron is welcomed by Government ministers to the Al Rawda Palace in the city of al Ain in Abu Dhabi after meeting President of the UAE HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan where they held a bilateral meeting, during his three day visit to Gulf states.

Prime Minister David Cameron (left) and Defence Secretary Philip Hammondn (right) talk with the President of the UAE HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahya, at the Al Rawda Palace in the city of al Ain in Abu Dhabi, where they held a bilateral meeting, as part of a three day visit to Gulf states.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets students at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi before holding a Q&amp;A with 350 more students where he faced questions about a range of topics including the 'arab spring'.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets students at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi before holding a Q&A with 350 more students where he faced questions about a range of topics including the 'arab spring'.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets students at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi before holding a Q&A with 350 more students where he faced questions about a range of topics including the 'arab spring'.

Students at Zayed University take part in a Q&amp;A with Prime Minister David Cameron in Abu Dhabi today where he faced questions about a range of topics including the 'arab spring'.

Students at Zayed University take part in a Q&A with Prime Minister David Cameron in Abu Dhabi today where he faced questions about a range of topics including the 'arab spring'.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets students at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi before holding a Q&amp;A with 350 more students where he faced questions about a range of topics including the 'arab spring'.

Prime Minister David Cameron holds a Q&amp;A with 350 students at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi today where he faced questions about a range of topics including the 'arab spring'.

Prime Minister David Cameron holds a Q&amp;A with 350 students at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi today where he faced questions about a range of topics including the 'arab spring'.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets students at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi before holding a Q&A with 350 more students where he faced questions about a range of topics including the 'arab spring'.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets students at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi before holding a Q&A with 350 more students where he faced questions about a range of topics including the 'arab spring'.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets His Highness Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum (right) Prime Minister of UAE at Za'abeel Palace in Dubai today where they had lunch together before travelling onto Abu Dhabi.

Prime Minister David Cameron holds a Q&amp;A with 350 students at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi today where he faced questions about a range of topics including the 'arab spring'.

Prime Minister David Cameron takes the Dubai Metro to the World Trade Centre with His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, where he saw one of the first completely driverless transport networks.

Prime Minister David Cameron arrives at the World Trade Centre in Dubai where he visited a trade fair called The Big Five, where British businesses are exhibiting their wares to the UAE.

Prime Minister David Cameron takes the Dubai Metro to the World Trade Centre with His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, where he saw one of the first completely driverless transport networks.

Prime Minister David Cameron arrives at the World Trade Centre in Dubai with His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum where he visited a trade fair called The Big Five, where British businesses are exhibiting their wares to the UAE.

Prime Minister David Cameron arrives at the World Trade Centre in Dubai where he visited a trade fair called The Big Five, where British businesses are exhibiting their wares to the UAE.

Prime Minister David Cameron takes the Dubai Metro to the World Trade Centre with His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, where he saw one of the first completely driverless transport networks.

Prime Minister David Cameron arrives at the World Trade Centre in Dubai where he visited a trade fair called The Big Five, where British businesses are exhibiting their wares to the UAE.

Prime Minister David Cameron takes the Dubai Metro to the World Trade Centre with His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, where he saw one of the first completely driverless transport networks.

Prime Minister David Cameron takes the Dubai Metro to the World Trade Centre with His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, where he saw one of the first completely driverless transport networks.

Prime Minister David Cameron has breakfast with RAF personnel based at the Al Minhad airbase in Dubai where British Typhoon jets of 99 Squadron are stationed. Cameron is on a three day visit to Gulf states.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets RAF personnel based at the Al Minhad airbase in Dubai where British Typhoon jets of 99 Squadron are stationed. Cameron is on a three day visit to Gulf states.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets RAF personnel based at the Al Minhad airbase in Dubai where British Typhoon jets of 99 Squadron are stationed. Cameron is on a three day visit to Gulf states.

Prime Minister David Cameron has breakfast with RAF personnel based at the Al Minhad airbase in Dubai where British Typhoon jets of 99 Squadron are stationed. Cameron is on a three day visit to Gulf states.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets RAF personnel based at the Al Minhad airbase in Dubai where British Typhoon jets of 99 Squadron are stationed. Cameron is on a three day visit to Gulf states.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets RAF personnel based at the Al Minhad airbase in Dubai where British Typhoon jets of 99 Squadron are stationed. Cameron is on a three day visit to Gulf states.

Prime Minister David Cameron meets RAF personnel based at the Al Minhad airbase in Dubai where British Typhoon jets of 99 Squadron are stationed. Cameron is on a three day visit to Gulf states.

Prime Minister David Cameron has breakfast with RAF personnel based at the Al Minhad airbase in Dubai where British Typhoon jets of 99 Squadron are stationed. Cameron is on a three day visit to Gulf states.

Prime Minister David Cameron and Defence Secretary Philip Hammond arrive at the Al Minhad airbase in Dubai where British Typhoon jets of 99 Squadron are stationed. Cameron is on a three day visit to Gulf states.